Profile: Sarah and Lizzy Newberry

The buzz at the Alter Cup this year is all about the Newberry sisters. They're fast, they're young, and they're the only all-girl team at the event. We chronicled some of their results in our update yesterday. After racing was done for the day, 35 Knots had a chance to catch up with the duo and get to know them a little better.

The sisters told 35 Knots they come from a family of sailors four generations deep, so getting involved in the sport was a natural choice. What is perhaps a little more surprising is the duo’s attraction to multihulls, but the their family history is steeped in fast cat sailing. Extended family, parents, grandparents, and event great grandparents all contribute to the sisters’ multihull roots.

Lizzy Newberry explained that she began sailing when her mother started a summer camp at the Miami Yacht Club. She learned to sail on smaller boats with a close friend. Lizzy laughs recalling her first sailing experiences:

“We were really big babies. When I look back it cracks me up to see how big babies we were compared to where we are now.”

Earlier in the day, the 15-year-old proved the toughness she has cultivated since those early days. She pointed to some angry bruises and scabs on her feet and ankles.

“Yeah I have boat bites here and here. My arm is bruised from rubbing against the shroud while I’m pulling lines. I can’t feel my tailbone. All in all I’d say it was a good day.”

Sarah Newberry has also come a long way since the beginning of her sailing career in 2002. She has a laundry list of impressive sailing results, including a trip to the Tornado US Olympic Trials last year, a second place in the 470 North Americans, and trips to the Tornado Nationals and North Americans. In 2007, Sarah was a Gary Jobson Junior All-Star.

But you wouldn’t hear about Sarah’s resume if you were to meet her. “I just keep my mouth shut. People [at the Alter Cup] keep thinking Lizzy is me, and I kind of like it. I pretend that for some reason that will work out to my advantage.”

The first time Sarah and Lizzy competed together was at the US Youth Multihull Nationals in 2006. Although Sarah had experience, Lizzy was new to the boat and to double-handed competition in general.

“We had like two days to practice,” said Lizzy. “But it was the most laid back competition I’ve ever been to.” (Sarah rebuked this by saying it only seemed laid back because they were at their home club and doing well in the event.)

Lizzy said that competing with her sister in that championship was something of an honor. “It was just … wow. Sailing with Sarah.” They both laughed as she added, “I saw a side of her I never saw before. I see it all the time now – she was a lot nicer then.”

Since the 2006 championship, the sisters have only competed in two other events. Sarah explained, “It’s not that we don’t want to sail together. The issue is that we’re too light together. She sails with bigger guys. I sail with bigger guys.”

“[The Alter Cup] is the same thing,” she continued. “There’s no one I’d rather sail with, especially on the F16. And if we have good wind for the rest of the event, perfect. If they put in the F18 or I20 next year, forget about it.”

As the racers in this year’s Alter Cup round the marks, the committee boats signal the rounding sequences to the officials on the beach. The beach officials then convert the rounding numbers to the skippers’ names. It is interesting to hear the excitement from everyone, even the competition, as the Newberry name is called.

Some of the competition, including current leader John Casey, US Olympic coach Leandro Spina, and organizers such as Tornado guru Robbie Daniels have helped the sisters better understand depowering the boat to match their low crew weight.

“It’s just really amazing to get noticed by guys like that,” said Sarah.

The Newberrys are currently in 11th out of 20 in this year’s Alter Cup. But things are looking up as they were bumped up into A Fleet after a nice finish in their second race yesterday, and we are anticipating light winds in the sisters’ favor for racing today and tomorrow.